Noteworthy new listings….
The French-ish house at 1492 E. Mountain Drive ($18 million) has a low-key, Bel-Air-in-the-1950s charm. You could update the interiors and have a sweet little single-level house with ocean views and an A-plus location at the top of San Ysidro Road. But that’s not what’s likely to happen: the offering is two lots (1.83 acres, with the house on it, and 4.17 acres in the rear), and the address is too prestigious. Despite the inherent challenges—such as the lack of a road—someone will probably choose to build something much bigger on the vacant lot, where there’s currently a one-acre Chardonnay vineyard. The only real question is whether the current house survives as guest accommodations or gets sold off. P.S. Kudos for the courtyard hot tub off the primary bathroom.
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You get bang for your buck at 1865 Cravens Lane ($8.475 million) in the Carpinteria foothills: five acres with the 1938 main house, a guest casita, a guest house, a barn with workshop, and an acre and a half of organic avocado trees. (The house wants a refresh, but here’s hoping the Technicolor bathrooms make the cut.) Moreover, the ocean views are wide and unobstructed.
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I’d like an architect to weigh in on 161 La Vereda Road ($6.85 million), a 1983 Hedgerow property with classic curb appeal. Most of the 4,795-square-foot house is on the ground floor, but it’s cut up into a lot of rooms; a consolidation that integrates better with the broad backyard could be very welcome (along with a larger terrace off the kitchen). P.S. Did they run out of carpet for the stairway?
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Located in the gated community at Faria Beach, between La Conchita and Ventura, 4223 Faria Road ($3.58 million) has 1962 lines under the exuberant decor. It’s one house off the water, with ocean views from the main living area on the second floor and beach access a Frisbee’s toss away. It gave me the unfamiliar feeling of wanting a beach house….
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1536 Laguna Street ($1.795 million), at the corner of E. Arrellaga, is small but adorable, with plenty of 1920 details. I haven’t seen it and there’s no floor plan, so I don’t know whether there’s a way to turn the one and a half baths into two.
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And a few others worth checking out:
••• 5576 Camino Ceralvo ($2.85 million): 1964 four-bedroom above N. Patterson Avenue with sweet mountain views (below).
••• 71 Olive Mill Road ($3.195 million): Three-bedroom townhome walkable to Butterfly Beach.
••• 85 Depot Road ($3.35 million): High-style three-bedroom townhome walkable to Butterfly Beach.
••• 3318 Calle Fresno ($2.875 million): Drive-through house in San Roque.
••• 536 E. Sola Street ($1.895 million): 1925 bungalow with quite the sofa.
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